Plumber avoids jail for clawhammer attack

Simon Early (27), pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to David Griffin at Ashton Rise, Swords on October 22nd, 2011. Photograph: Reuters

A Dublin plumber who broke a mans skull with a claw hammer after finding him in his former partners bed has avoided a jail sentence.

Simon Early of Old Brazil Way, Swords got a suspended sentence for the attack, which left the victim with a 2.7cm fracture in his skull.

Early (27), pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to David Griffin at Ashton Rise, Swords on October 22nd, 2011.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, but suspended it in full on condition that Early keeps the peace for 12 months.

She accepted that the attack was out of character and that Early was sorry but said he could have caused permanent or fatal injury. A probation report said there was a low risk of him reoffending.

Garda David Smith told Anne Rowland BL, prosecuting, that Early had been dropping their two-and-a-half-year old daughter to the home of his former partner, Bethany Hourigan.

The court heard there had been an agreement between the estranged couple that no man would stay over at the house while the child was there.

Early arrived at the house and went upstairs to find Mr Griffin in bed. He went downstairs and returned wielding a clawhammer which he started swinging at Mr Griffins head.

Mr Griffin retreated to the balcony and shouted at Early to relax. He tried to kick the attacker away with both legs, but was backed into the bedroom and fell onto the bed.

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Plumber avoids jail for clawhammer attack